Lots of things going on, and going on in my head - it's nice to have a yard or garden to futz with to help your brain simultaneously "put the glass of water down" as well as process and ponder all the things going on. And nothing like a garden to remind you it's always … Continue reading Garden Log – Week of 4/5
Project Site: Willow Bed
Sometime at the end of this month or early May (because reasons), I will have five varieties of willow showing up, 30 cuttings total: Salix purpurea #187 (10 cuttings) - linkSalix purpurea 'Green Dicks' (5 cuttings) - linkSalix purpurea x daphnoides (5 cuttings) - linkSalix 'Americana' (5 cuttings) - linkSalix fragilis 'Belgium Red' also sometimes known as … Continue reading Project Site: Willow Bed
Hard Lessons in Hardware Cloth
This week as I've been checking my garden beds, I noticed that some bulbs were starting to sprout and others weren't and grew concerned. Finally deciding to investigate further, I had to kick myself: hardware cloth. Last season when I was planting all the bulbs, I created little hardware cages with removable tops for most … Continue reading Hard Lessons in Hardware Cloth
Wotsitlooklike – March 2021
As a new gardener, you know what would be really helpful? Pictures of plants at different phases of their growth over the course of all the seasons. It would be reassuring to know what they look like at different times outside of "looking their best" so us new people don't carry unnecessary anxiety over whether … Continue reading Wotsitlooklike – March 2021
Garden Things in March
March can be as frustrating as it is exciting. There are finally some sunshine-filled days where the temperature starts to warm and it creates the undeniable urge to be outside and start futzing with the garden. I'm learning that the urge to dig around in the dirt has to be resisted: I don't want to … Continue reading Garden Things in March
Project Site: Driveway Bed
Driveway Bed, Mid-March 2021. In mid April 2019, the strip alongside the gravel drive was the first garden bed I established since moving into the house. After staring at the spot awhile, I decided I wanted something to visually separate the driveway and frame in the yard, so I came up with the idea of … Continue reading Project Site: Driveway Bed
Project Site: North-East Garden Bed
The North-East Garden Bed flanks the front right side of the house, March 2021. This garden bed is probably what people would refer to as a "COVID-19 Quarantine" project. Though to me, it isn't... Originally I had intended to do SOMETHING the year before, but right before it was consistently warm enough to start in … Continue reading Project Site: North-East Garden Bed
Spring *IS* On the Way
In the Midwest, it may only be 'Fool's Spring,' but it's still super encouraging to see some of the bulbs I planted in fall start to sprout. English Bluebells and Snowdrops The mix of English Bluebells and Snowdrops I planted beneath the pine trees in the front yard are off to a strong start. Beneath … Continue reading Spring *IS* On the Way
I’m Going to Learn A LOT About Willow
Last year I semi-blindly dove into a COVID-19-Work-Stress-Related project of creating a wattle-weave edging to frame in the new no-dig garden bed I put in. In the process, I learned how willow is the more common material used to produce a tighter and more consistent weave. At the time, I was still in the heat … Continue reading I’m Going to Learn A LOT About Willow